Tank



March s, 1927.

H. F. KOEPPE TANK Filed Sept. 29. 1926 INVENTOR I j BY O ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN r2E'. KOEPPE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TAN K.

Application filed September 29, 1926. Serial No. 138,491.

My present invention has reference to gasoline storage or supplyvtanksfor automobiles and like motor driven vehicles.

An object is the provision in a` gasolineline supply tank for vehicles, a spring tube.

or pipe having one end coupled to the outn let of the pipe and its'other end connected to adjustablemeans operable from` the exterior of the. tank whereby the inlet end of the tube may be arranged at any desired ele vation with respect vto the bottomof the tank so that the fluid below such inlet end will be reservedfor emergencies, the inherent springl quality of the tube normally sustaining theoutlet endthereoil in contactwith the bottom of the tank.

A still further object is the provision of means for retaining a reserve quantity of fuel in a gasoline tank of a nature and 4construction to permit of the same being ap plied to the supply tank of any ordinary automobile construction and which device embodies the desirable features of simplicity in construction, cheapness in manufacture and application and thorough reliability and efficiency in practical use.

To the attainment of the foregoing objects and others which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the improvement resides in the novel features of construction, combination and operative association of parts, one satisfactory embodiment of which is4 disclosed by the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a sufHcient portion of the frame or chassis of an automobile to illustrate the application of my improvenient thereon.

Figure 2 is an approximately central lontion with the supply tanks of automobiles having a gravity feed. i z

Figure 4 is a side elevation, with parts in section, of the adjusting or regulating means for the spring pipe or tube. i

In Figure l of the drawings vI have il-` lustrated a sufficient portion of the chassis:

of an automobile having a vacuum gasoline.` feed, and in Figure 2 I have shown the` supply tank for this` type of automobiles.v

The tank l is of the usual construction, the same having a normally closed filler spout at the top thereof and alsoV an outlet opening in which-is threaded an elbow 2 that has its outer end connected tothe usual supply tube 3 leading to the vacuum tank e for the engine 5 of an automobile' 6.

In carrying out my invention I screw Vor otherwise secure on the inner branch of the elbow 2 one end of a spring tube or pipe 7. It is to be noted ythat the ends of the tube 7 are straight and that the tube-is rounded between its said straight ends. l For distinction the branch of the tube connected to the elbow is indicated by the numeral 8, and its outer branch by the numeral `9. YThe branch 9. is designed to spring away from the branch 8 and therefore theinlet end of the tube 7 will normally frictionally contact with the bottom of the tank 1. When in this position the gasoline in the tanks is sucked therefrom into the vacuum tank and from thence into the engine cylinders in the usual manner.

In order that a reserve supply of gasoline may be retained in the tank, I slip over the outlet end or the. branch 9 of the spring tube 7 a head member l0 provided with a somewhat Velongated opening 11 thercthrough, the tube passing tl'irough the said opening. The head is formed with a somewhat elongated threaded stem 12, and this stem is screwed in a threaded socket inember 13. The outer end of the socket member has a reduced cross scctionally rounded extension 14 that passes through an opening in the top of the tank and also passes through a central opening in a conical dial carrying member 15. The extension le has its outer end secured to a milled head or knob 16 and which head, or the shank thereof may be provided with an indicator mark to align with the indicia on the dial 15. By turning the head 16 in one direction it will be apparent that the inlet end 9 of theV tube 7 will be raised above the bottom of feed for the motors thereof.

the tank, and the indicia onV the dial will indicate to what extent the 'said end of the tube has been raised above the said bottom of the tank. Of course, the fuel above the elevated end of the tube 7 will be fed to the engine cylinders, or rather first to the carbureter in the usual manner. When the gasoline has been consumed to the level disclosed by Figure 2 of the drawings the operatorV of the car, knowing he has areserve supply of gasoline suflicient to operate the motor to propel the vehicle a. determined distance, turns vthe headlfto lower the end 9 of the pipe 7 in the'tank. Thus by my simple construction and arrangement of parts the liability of an automobile being stalled;` for want of. gasoline' at a distance away from. a supply station will be effectively. and easilyl overcome,

In. Figure 3A ofthe drawings the tank 17 is ofthe type employedin connectionvvith automobiles having the gravity gasoline T he outlet for the gasoline is therefore arranged at the bot-- tom of the tank 17. there is the usual elbow 18 to'whose outer branch is connected thensual feed pipe for the' carbureter; of the motor, and whose inner branch has connected thereto the angle end 19oii a spring pipe or tube 20. Inthis' instance't-he inlet end` of the tube 20 is designedtospring downwardly in the tank 17 to rest against the bottom thereof, while the same means. heretofore described, and best'` illustrated by Figure 4 of the drawings isv employed for'springing the pipe 2O 4upwardly in the tank to'arrange the inlet end of the said tube or pipe 2O at an elevation to retain a reserve supply of gasoline in the tank. In order that the pipe or tube 20`may snugly contact with the lower wall of the tank 17 the latter is formed with an Screwed in this outlet 'restricted tothe precise details of the improvement as herein disclosed, and therefore hold myself entitled to make all such changes therefrom as fairly fall withinthe scope of what I claim, providing such changes-do not depart from the spirit or sacrifice any of the advantages of therinvention.

Having claim The combination with a gasoline supply tank for internal combustion motors, and a curved spring tube having straight ends, one of which is connected to the outlet for the tank and the other end `designed to spring into frictional Contact with the bottom of the tank and means for raising the last mentioned end, including a headed mem ber having an elongated opening through which the last mentionedend of the tube is freely passed, a threaded shank extension on said headed member, a socket screwed on the stem, said socket having a reduced part that passes through the top of the tank, a dial on the tank surroundingthe last mentioned part of the socket member and a head removably secured on the last mentioned part of the socket member and disposed over the dial.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HERMAN F. KOEPPE.

described the invention, I 

